Common Digital Image Formats

The following table lists key characteristics of common digital image file formats.

Format Bit depth (per pixel) Color model Lossy compression Lossless compression Layers Alpha channels Embedded timecode Additional features
Adobe Digital Negative (DNG) Various Various
x
x
x
x
Supports all feature of TIFF specification, various metadata
xAdobe Photoshop Document (PSD) Various Various
x
x
x
Supports vectors, parametric image operations, color profiles, other metadata
Kodak Cineon (CIN) 30 Logarithmic RGB, linear RGB
x
Can store key numbers, other metadata
CompuServe Graphical Interchange Format (GIF) 8 Indexed RGB Supports animation, keyed alpha
SMPTE Digital Picture Exchange (DPX) 24, 30 Logarithmic RGB, linear RGB
x
Supports all features of Cineon specification
JPEG 24 Linear RGB
x
x
JPEG-2000 Various Various
x
x
x
Supports color profiles, other metadata
TIFF Various Various
x
x
x
x
Several variants of the TIFF format are available, such as LogLuv and Pixar, allowing for different dynamic ranges, supports color profiles, other metadata
OpenEXR 48 Logarithmic HDR
x
x
Covers 9.6 orders of magnitude with 0.1% precision, can store key numbers, other metadata
Radiance 32 Logarithmic HDR
x
Covers 76 orders of magnitude with 1.0% precision
Portable Network Graphics (PNG) 24 Linear RGB
x
x
Targa (TGA) 24 Linear RGB
x
Windows Bitmap (BMP) 8, 24 Linear RGB
Posted: October 15th, 2008
Categories: Articles
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